Print a template(s) of your embroidery design so you can plan the embroidery layout. Place it on the item (garment, home décor, craft or quilt) and critique its placement and size.

Build a test stash. Keep a test polo shirt, stretchy t-shirt, terrycloth towel and common items that you embroider on all the time in your test stash. Use this resource when testing a design for a final project. Fill every available inch with test designs then toss it when there’s no more room for additional tests.If you’re stitching on plain fabric, always buy more than you’ll need so you have material to use for a test stitch-out.So many problems can be avoided by stitching a test of the design with the fabric, stabilizer and thread combo that you’ll be using for the final project.

Press the fabric – use starch and steam to get the fabric to behave. Press the stabilizer if it’s wrinkled so it will lay flat behind the fabric.

Hoop on a flat, sturdy surface, not your lap. Ironing boards work in a pinch but best results are achieved when hooping on a solid surface, such as a cutting table and mat. Use the lines on the mat to square the fabric in the hoop.

Select the right hoop for the job. The best hold is achieved with the smallest hoop for the design. For instance, a 4” x 4” hoop is the best choice for a 2 ½” x 3” design.

Insert a fresh needle when starting a new embroidery project.

Learn how to use simple embroidery editing software. You probably don’t need a full-blown digitizing system but a simple sizing and editing program can do 75% of daily embroidery tasks. Rotating, merging, mirror imaging and sizing designs are the top four chores I do to almost every design I stitch.

This week’s assignment:

I need your help! Tell me what color combination of the images shown is your favorite. Keep in mind that you’re not looking at actual fabric swatches, these are just thumbnails of colors. Your answers will help me when I’m shopping for fabrics and will place your name in a random drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate to Designs website. I can’t wait to see what you choose.

The FOUR winners of last week’s assignment answered the following question:

We LOVE bling and we want to hear from all of you that also LOVE bling! This week we will give away FOUR Crystal Eye Candy kits courtesy of Design by Dawn. Tell us what you would embellish with your own set of crystals. Four random winners will be drawn and will win one Kit listed below.

Prizes include:
Tropical Kit
Light Kit
Winter Kit
Sweet Kit

Each kit includes 480 crystals– all neatly organized in a handy container. Talk about beautiful, sparkly eye-candy! Plus, you’re getting nothing but the best! All crystals are Crystallized™ Swarovski Elements.

The FOUR winners are….

Tropical Kit: Michelle Rasmussen:

“I just bought my first tiny bag of crystals and a heat wand yesterday! I am adding them to my embroidered can koozies for an up coming bachelorette party! I didn’t think they would be so easy to use. I love adding a little or aLOTof bling to my embroidery. My next project will be on an embroidered top that I am making for my mom for mother’s day. Would love to add some bling to that!”

Light Kit: Linda Lynch

“I like to use bling on cosmetic bags I make and fill for women’s shelters.”

Winter Kit: Lila Smith

“I like the tee shirt, hadn’t thought about doing a design on an angle. Lorraine, you are missed! It was always a pleasure to talk with you. Hope your new location is wonderful.

Eileen, congratulations. I wish you happiness and only the best in the years to come. I look forward to receiving your magazine and can hardly wait for a new one to arrive.

I want to make some purses with bling on them.”

Sweet Kit: Judy Wentz

“I would put bling on the tiaras I embroidered with metallic thread for my friends to wear at quilt retreat. we all look so good in our pajamas and tiaras!”

Thank you everyone for participating! Congrats to our four lucky winners and thank you Design by Dawn! If you weren’t one of the four winners, stop by the Design by Dawn website to browse the colorful assortment of crystal goodies.

Pat

Deb

Cathy

April 11, 2012 at 12:43 pm (7 years ago)

I pick group A for value change and contrast. Group E has some nice movement, and I would keep that in mind when looking for fabric in the group A color range. Then it will keep your eye moving within the quilt. The colors in B, C and D all appear to have the same values.

Debbie Cossins

Hi, this was hard for me on the above assignment. I originally chose group C, but upon squinting, I felt that it was all too similar and nothing popped. So my final answer is group A because I like the color combo and it has some visual interest with the 2 colors next to each other.

Gail Beam

Judy G

April 5, 2012 at 9:51 pm (7 years ago)

Difficult to choose, but I finally settled on Group E. It reminds me of a Spring storm; one minute clear blue sky, the next a gray sky filled with thunderhead clouds. Of course, the fabric I’d choose greatly depends on the project planned for it.

Chris Thiessen

Mary Catherine

April 5, 2012 at 10:17 pm (7 years ago)

Congrats Eileen.
I would embellish my granddaughter’s new Denim Jacket. I have put an embroidery design on the back and would complete it with some bling. She’s a girly girl and would love this. Thanks

LeAnne L

Sue Anderson

April 5, 2012 at 10:33 pm (7 years ago)

I like the contrast and interest in group A the best. They would look great with designs embroidered with the other color ( brown thread on the blue & vice versa). Group E could be interesting with some bright colors of thread embroidered on them, the fabrics would almost be neutral.

Bernie Webre

Lila Smith

April 5, 2012 at 11:08 pm (7 years ago)

Group A is a favorite, the brown makes the blue a star. B is nice, just am not an orange color person, C has so many possibilities and looks cool, D”s blue is nice but that shade of green doesn’t do anything for me, and E is such a nice contrast. Use the orange in B and add the green in D would make some one happy as they are so bright. I actually like them all and would enjoy them. Have a nice shopping trip. Lila

Lila Smith

April 5, 2012 at 11:11 pm (7 years ago)

Thank you so very much for the Winter Bling crystals. I’m looking forward to receiving them. It was a pleasant surprise to see that I’d won them. Now I can put them to use on a purse or jacket.
Again, many thanks. Lila

Rita Dougherty

Jean Eason

Doree Shandera

April 6, 2012 at 12:00 am (7 years ago)

I would pick group E. I love seeing black tones with bright colors.
In January I won the coupon for designs from Bunnycup.com. What fabulous designs. It took quite a while to decide whick ones I would pick, there is such an array of designs. They sew out beautifully. A huge thank you to Ashlea Stoodley from Bunnycup, she not only donated the prizes, but also was sure to tell me about a great sale they were having so that I could really capitalize on the prize. Great company, hope you will all take a look.

Bobbie23nc

Barbara

Colleen Bell

April 6, 2012 at 7:45 am (7 years ago)

Eileen, congratulations on your marriage! May God bless you with a wonderful marriage.

Only one week away from us. Even if you weren’t on your honeymoon, you could have stayed away longer. We all need some time away and I am sure you are exhausted from all that earlier wedding planning. Enjoy your new week.

Sandy Sanger

Mary Anne K

Judy Parker

April 6, 2012 at 8:19 am (7 years ago)

I would choose Combo A…I have never done a brown and blue quilt yet but love stepping out of the box in color…if I needed 3 colors I would probably go with the more traditional Combo C although it is so very tradition in color….I love color and I am not afraid to use it…heheheh…blessings

Debbie Glynn

April 7, 2012 at 8:06 pm (7 years ago)

I think Group E is the nicest combination that would be beautiful for so many creations – I can see it as a smart corporate outfit with grey suit and aqua ruffle shirt or an aqua satin evening dress with embroidery & black diamond crystals or a carry bag in dark grey with aqua flowers stitched over it!!

Betsy

I love group c…very clean and bright…love the spring is in the air colors! I would like them as a summer dress with layers of ruffles for my 3 year old granddaughter Surenity. She would look so beautiful with her long blonde curls and big blue eyes, and

Patty Sack

Margo Walrath

April 9, 2012 at 10:11 am (7 years ago)

I would have to say that I like C … I really prefer when stitching is done on a plain lighter shaded fabric as it enables seeing the detail of the embroidery better. Patterned fabric and dark colors are a bit more difficult to view the simple beauty of the work done.

Michelle Rasmussen

April 9, 2012 at 10:41 am (7 years ago)

Group E.
Although, at first glance, sort of an unusual choice, but 2 contrasting colors. They could be paired with alot of combinations. And the dark grey, could be used for alot of men’s/boys items. 🙂

Janice Henderson

Linda Lynch

I love Group A. The brown is soft and quiet and the blue really presents a palette for some VERY interesting embroideries. This combination could work on any age. Lucky Linda

ps. Looking forward to receiving the light crystal set I won. I have several bags just waiting for their “bling”. Your generosity will reach many women who need something to smile about.
Thanks for all your hard work!!

Raewyn

Rosie

April 9, 2012 at 4:46 pm (7 years ago)

If I were sewing for my 2 granddaughters I would pick group B. Those bright colors remind me of cheerful girls clothes. But, for myself, the colors in group D make me happy. I love the jewel tones of that group.

Patricia :Levick

Suzanne Cholet Hughes

April 9, 2012 at 7:01 pm (7 years ago)

I LOVE the Bs! Just found your blog and signed up. I’ve never been interested in blogs (besides my niece’s who just moved to Singapore)and can’t wait to learn more new tidbits about my embroidery addiction. Suzanne

Kathy Corns

Shannon M Hart

April 9, 2012 at 7:35 pm (7 years ago)

This is my first time on your blog, but will be revisiting often. Thanks for sharing your helpful tips so open-heartedly! Must opt for A today due to its classic versatility, soothing earth tones, and complimentary contrast, but am more personally attuned to slightly darker tones of the colors in C (rustier oranges, more golden yellows, and more olive shadings of green).

Group E Would make great totes/designer bags/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Group E Would make great totes/designer bags/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

My choice is Group D. I like the contrast and if used in embroidery would be complementary to each other. Thank you so much for the embroidery tips, your help goes a long way towards helping all of us be more successful!

Leanna

Julie GLenn

Carmen

April 11, 2012 at 1:05 am (7 years ago)

Group E: you have the calm of the sky in one moment and in the next you can have the movement of the wind. the two actions go hand-in-hand when you are quilting/embroidering. i want both the calm and the movement in whatever i create. i always want a piece to “speak” to me. and the best way to do that is with these two components.

Teresa Moffitt

April 11, 2012 at 1:55 am (7 years ago)

I instantly chose Group B. Summer colors! Bright, hot, jazzy, cheerful! A, D and E all have blues and not everyone can wear blue, nor does it fit in with an existing color scheme in a house. The pop of brights can always be used with any nuetral. And besides…..they are my favorite colors!

Tammy Fincher

April 23, 2012 at 2:15 pm (7 years ago)

I think Group B – the colors are so bright and cheerful that they would be uplifting, even on a cool, dreary day. I would love to see this made into matching outfits for my beautiful grandaughters, ages 20 months and 1 month. But in turn it would also work on an adult sailing off on a cruise to the Bahamas.

Judy Zumbahlen

Georgia Hall

Patricia Thomas

May 17, 2012 at 6:09 am (7 years ago)

This is really a new arena for me, just began machine embroidery this past year. Since it is so new, I’m not quite sure what I am looking for. But, view “B” catches my eye when I look at all of them together. So, for that reason alone, I would say “B”.

Rinda

I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or
did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. kudos